Omaha daily bee., 1887-11-08
Advancing Southwark.

The cultivation OF closer trade rela-
tions between the United States and the
states OF Central and South America Is a
policy the wisdom OF which no one will
question. That too little attention has
been given to this policy in the past is
generally admitted, and as the result
other nations have improved the great
commercial opportunities that were pre-
sented, and have secured the possession
of trade which they will spare no ef-
forts to hold. The development of the
immensely rich country in the southern
half Of the hemisphere, is, however,
still in the first stage. The possibilities
OF growth are almost illimitable, and
vast commerce, very much greater than
that of the present, may yet be secured
by the United States if adequate enter
prise and energy are directed TO obtain
ing it.
1t is gratifying to note that some pro-
gress is being made in extending our
commercial relations in this region.
This is being accomplished through the
agency of postal treaties. Under exist
ing laws these treaties can be negotiated
by the postmaster general and the presi-
dent without the consent of the senate.
The postmaster general has taken ad-
vantage of this authority to open nego-
tiations with every government in South
and Central America and the West
Indies with q view of establishing q
general system of commercial inter-
course by parcel post delivery and q
letting down of the customs barriers in
the states treated with. Although un-
able to promise any reciprocal action on
the part of the United States in the
matter of customs restrictions, his ad-
vances have been most favor
ably received, and there is
fair assurance that within u short
time satisfactory arrangements will have
been perfected between this govern
ment and dozen or more of the gov
ernments of South and Central America
and the Antilles, similar in character to
those recently effected with Mexico, the
good results of which are already ap-
parent.
While the enlargement of trade rela-
tions effected by this means could never
be very extensive, the establishment of
these postal treaties is valuable step
toward other methods necessary to
bring about commercial intercourse on
the scale to be desired. They foster and
increase communication between this
country and the States with which the
treaties are made, and the tendency OF
this is to create demand for the re-
moval of other barriers that are in the
way of further extension of COM
mercial relations. When two countries
learn that their interests are to be
mutually advanced by cultivating init
| mate business intercourse the way is
| open to mutual concessions. There is
no reason why this country should not
have its share of the trade of the coun.
tries to the south of US if we will treat
them as literally as other countries and
put ourselves in a position to transact
our business with them as promptly as
do other countries. No country O.
South or Central America has evel
shown any indisposition to trade with
the United states except on the grount
that it could secure better advantage:
in doing business with other nations
for which our tariff system is largely
responsible. The matter is in our owl
hands, and it is one which every depart
ment of American enterprise and indus
try is interested in.